Best Left Buried - Experience and Leveling Up

The cast of Characters -

Amy - plays Wormac, a Dastard who’s quick with her blade

Bill - plays Gannon, a hulking Protagonist

Tom - plays Bjorn, a Cabalist with an unhealthy obsession with fire

Pat - The Doomsayer, or referee

In this example, all of the players are starting with 4 Experience from a previous adventure.

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The most important thing to remember about Experience is that you, the Doomsayer, are in control. You can award and withhold it to encourage the style of play you’re hoping to see at your table. As you do, make sure that you’re fair and consistent.

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Unlike a lot of games Experience is not given for killing random foes.  Characters gain Experience from treasure brought back to camp, making Grip Checks, doing clever things, or experiencing great things (the kinds of things bards sing about.)

Pat/Doomsayer - The three of you make it back to camp in time for a well-deserved dinner. But before you can join the chow line Titus, the company steward wants a briefing of your delve into Torvald’s Folly - and an accounting of the treasure you recovered.

Amy/Wormac - Fine.  Let’s get this over with, Wormac is cold and hungry and I’m sure whatever glop is on the fire smells pretty inviting after two days underground.

Tom/Bjorn - So we’ll sketch out a map of the new spaces we discovered and go over what we fought. Then we can get to the good stuff.

Amy/Wormac - For Wormac’s share, she wants to keep that Woundknitting potion we found.

Pat/Doomsayer - No problem.  You can each claim one treasure for yourselves - just remember, magic items don’t give you any Experience points.

Bill/Gannon - Gannon wants that scroll of My Shining Armour Gleams.

Tom/Bjorn - And Bjorn will take that Firebreathing potion.  Besides that, we brought back: two large silver ingots; ancient copper tools;  a gilded, leather-bound tome; some bloodstained, fine clothing; and a fraying, large tapestry

Pat/Doomsayer- OK. That will be worth some Experience.  Two large, silver ingots - that’s three positive descriptions, so 4. The tools and tome are worth 3 each. The clothing has one good and one bad description, so it’s worth 1. Same with the tapestry.  That would be 12 total, or 4 Experience each.

Bill/Gannon - I passed three Grip Checks, so that’s 3 more Experience, right? For a total of 11.

Pat/Doomsayer - Yup.  Amy and Tom, your characters succeeded on 2  Grip Checks each, right? So you’ll each get a total of 6 Experience, each of you will be at 10 now. And all three of you can head over and see what the company’s hunter brought in for stew tonight.

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Since each of the characters earned enough Experience to put their new total over eight, they will each “level up.” Each will get an additional point of Vigour and Grip. They will also get to choose an Advancement. Then, their Experience will be reduced by 8 and they'll start working on their next advancement.

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Bill/Gannon - I already have Lay on Hands, I think I’ll take the Holy Song of War.  Gannon seems like he might be headed toward a supporting/tank combo.  I like that he’s a big lug with a bigger heart. Then, after I reset my Experience, I’ll be at 3. 

Amy/Wormac - Hmm, I need to find something that pairs well with Nimble Dodge. Can I take My Shining Armour Gleams and use it as more of an advanced “bob and weave” fighting style?

Pat/Doomsayer - Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. Great use of reflavouring an existing Advancement. Let’s go with that. After you take your Advancement you’ll be at 2 Experience.

Tom/Bjorn - I really love Fire and Lightning Strange but I think I need to spread out a bit.  What about Concoctionist. I think Bjorn would love to whip up some more Firebreathing potions. In fact, I’ll spend that new point of Grip and craft a second one while we’re in camp. And after my advancement, I’ll be at 2 Experience too.